By Stephen Asante, GNA
Kumasi, Feb. 14, GNA – Activities at the
Maternal and Children’s Hospital, Kumasi, was brought to a temporary halt as
enthusiastic patients and staff joined authorities of the Ghana Tourism
Authority (GTA) to commemorate the ‘2020 Chocolate Day’.
It was a memorable occasion as most of the
patients and staff at the Out-Patient-Department (OPD) queued to receive their
share of the chocolate bars and cocoa drinks provided at the programme.
The Day initiated about fourteen years ago
to coincide with the Valentine’ Day, is tailored to promote the consumption of
Ghana’s chocolate brand domestically and internationally.
“We have many health benefits to derive from
chocolate as a people if its consumption is encouraged,” Mr. Peter Achampong,
Ashanti Regional Manager, GTA, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Kumasi, on the
sideline of the programme.
Research, he said, had shown that chocolate
contains high level of antioxidants, and could also lower cholesterol levels,
while helping to prevent memory decline.
Mr. Achampong advocated proactive measures
to making Ghana’s chocolate more affordable to the public on festive occasions
such as the Chocolate Day, saying this was critical to encouraging the masses
to patronize it.
Moreover, it is also necessary to serve
chocolate drinks on the menu of the Ghana School Feeding Programme for the
benefit of pupils and students.
Mr. Jones Opoku Boamah, Principal Research
Officer, said studies had shown that Ghana’s chocolate brand was the finest
compared to others globally.
Mr. Matthew Osei Prempeh, Senior Quality
Assurance Officer, took advantage of the occasion to advise owners of
hospitality enterprises (chop bars, drinking bars, restaurants, amongst others)
to maintain safety and clean environment.
Dr. Prosper Gbetor, Medical Superintendent
of the Hospital, on behalf of the staff, lauded the GTA for the gesture.
He stressed the need for the Authority to
organize more of such programmes not only on Valentine’s Day, but any other
festive occasion that could help promote the consumption of chocolate.
“My Chocolate Experience, My Holistic
Wellbeing”, was the theme for this celebration.
GNA